US Consulate in Guayaquil, Ecuador

[fantonledzepp 159]

I have an interview with my fiance in about 3 weeks. I am a bit worried because I don't really have a "huge" binder of supporting info. Maybe 10-20 pictures of us. A few with my entire family (they cam down from the US and we all went to Galapagos)

We have been living together in Guayaquil for the last 6 months. (I got a visa extension to the end of November)

She has a paypal debit card that she uses to buy all of our stuff here so I can print out the transaction history and show the card.

We have been renting a house from the former "Capitan de Puerto" de Guayaquil. My fiance is going to ask him if he can provide some kind of document stating that we have been renting from him and living together for the past 6 months but I am not sure if he will give it since he probably isn't claiming the income for tax reasons.

I have 2 other trips to guayaquil which are documented in my passport. (first is when we met, second we stayed together for a month)

I was living in panama before and she has 2 trips to panama to visit me ( 1 month each). They are the only stamps even in her passport.

There are no chat's or emails because she had no internet at her house and mainly I just called her. But that was from panama and I don't have nor can I get those phone records.

I am hoping the mere fact we have been living together for the past 6 months (7 by the time of the interview) should supersede most of the required info.

My advice is to take more pictures. If you've been living together for six months then there aren't many texts or chats. Try to get that living arrangement statement to show where you've been staying since there are no hotel bills. The entry stamps should be good, bring your passport with the Ecua visa to show that you've been there for six months. Also show your panama stamps and explain that she visited there, show her stamps as well. But I wouldn't be surprised if your interview turns into a stokes interview. Be prepared for that.

As for the visa, I had my interview on Monday and the following Wednesday the visa was in my fiancee's hand.

Edited September 6, 2012 by fantonledzepp

[dalupus 1]

As for the visa, I had my interview on Monday and the following Wednesday the visa was in my fiancee's hand.

Thanks for the info. I guess I'll take a few more pictures over the next few weeks.

so a week and a half for the visa to arrive? Not sure why that part takes them so long now. I had a friend that got one of these visa in Bogota a few years ago and they had the visa in 48 hours.

[TBoneTX 45,245]

My advice is to take more pictures. If you've been living together for six months then there aren't many texts or chats. Try to get that living arrangement statement to show where you've been staying since there are no hotel bills. The entry stamps should be good, bring your passport with the Ecua visa to show that you've been there for six months. Also show your panama stamps and explain that she visited there, show her stamps as well. But I wouldn't be surprised if your interview turns into a stokes interview. Be prepared for that.

This is excellent advice, si man -- fotos out the culo, and absolutely get a letter or two -- if not from the landlord, then from neighbors.

As for the visa, I had my interview on Monday and the following Wednesday the visa was in my fiancee's hand.

Congratulations, si man!!!!! Your embassy review is complete, literate, and elegant to the extreme. Thank heaven for a success story, si man.

[dalupus 1]

Had the interview today.

I ended up being able to get a rental contract form the owner of the house.

I had about 12 pictures

A paypal statement showing all the transactions she made with the paypal debit card I took out in her name

We had a receipt for her wedding dress.

Basically the interview was only 7 questions

1. Where did you meet

---- I said a webpage

2. How did you hear about the page

---- I said a friend

3. When did you meet in person

---- she answered with the date

4. So you have traveled to panama together

---- she answered yes

5. So you have traveled to Galapagos together?

---- she answered yes

6. What did you do there

---- we went on a cruise for a week

7. He asked me a few questions about my job

Interview over. Approved.

There was only 1 guy that was doing all of the interviews.

[fantonledzepp 159]

Had the interview today.

I ended up being able to get a rental contract form the owner of the house.

I had about 12 pictures

A paypal statement showing all the transactions she made with the paypal debit card I took out in her name

We had a receipt for her wedding dress.

Basically the interview was only 7 questions

1. Where did you meet

---- I said a webpage

2. How did you hear about the page

---- I said a friend

3. When did you meet in person

---- she answered with the date

4. So you have traveled to panama together

---- she answered yes

5. So you have traveled to Galapagos together?

---- she answered yes

6. What did you do there

---- we went on a cruise for a week

7. He asked me a few questions about my job

Interview over. Approved.

There was only 1 guy that was doing all of the interviews.

Congratulations man! Glad it all worked out for you.

[TBoneTX 45,245]

Congratulations man! Glad it all worked out for you.

Ditto, si man. Readers here are cautioned that the above is NOT TYPICAL of a Guayaquil interview!

[TBoneTX 45,245]

One of the reviews of the consulate says that Phil Linderman is no longer associated with them. We'll need to find out who the new Section Chief is, si man.

[TBoneTX 45,245]

Bump, for cause.

[oohpartiv 484]

Okay Ecuadorian filers... Hopefully some of you will see this and give me your thoughts.

I got my NVC case complete yesterday which means our case is officially waiting for an interview at the dreaded consulate. I'm expecting something in May. I'm living with hubby in Manabi, and have been for the past four years, so obviously I'll be going with him to the interview. We have a pretty good amount of evidence ready to take - apart from copies of all documents/forms ever submitted to USCIS or NVC, we also have photos spanning all 5 years of our relationship, emails, facebook messages/comments, affidavits from friends, my Ecuadorian visa/cedula, and joint bank statements - but there is one thing I am particularly nervous about, and am hoping someone might give me an opinion about.

Before my husband and I got married, we tried to get him a tourist visa two times. Once, when I was in the USA still finishing high school (it was in March 2009, so he had graduated already in January 2009 but I was going to until June 2009), and again in fall of 2010, when I want to take him home to meet my parents for Christmas, and we had been living together in Ecuador for over a year. Unfortunately, he was denied both times. Even though to any normal person, this would be a perfectly normal thing to do (what normal girl doesn't want her boyfriend of two years to meet her parents?), I'm worried that the IV unit in Guayaquil will try to make a problem out of it. If they ask, I'm planning on telling them exactly what I just wrote, because it's the truth and I don't want to make up any shady excuses that could get us into trouble.

I should also add that we got married in May 2011, and my family has since been down twice to meet him and get to know him, and we didn't file for his I-130 until after they left the second time. Still, I can't help but get nervous that when our interview day comes around, they're going to make us come to a second interview or put him in the dreaded AP for some reason. Has anyone else been in their situation with their spouses? Or does anyone have any insight? I'm probably just worrying for nothing, but it's hard not to with this hellish consulate. Thanks in advance for any help.

[dalupus 1]

Okay Ecuadorian filers... Hopefully some of you will see this and give me your thoughts.

I got my NVC case complete yesterday which means our case is officially waiting for an interview at the dreaded consulate. I'm expecting something in May. I'm living with hubby in Manabi, and have been for the past four years, so obviously I'll be going with him to the interview. We have a pretty good amount of evidence ready to take - apart from copies of all documents/forms ever submitted to USCIS or NVC, we also have photos spanning all 5 years of our relationship, emails, facebook messages/comments, affidavits from friends, my Ecuadorian visa/cedula, and joint bank statements - but there is one thing I am particularly nervous about, and am hoping someone might give me an opinion about.

Before my husband and I got married, we tried to get him a tourist visa two times. Once, when I was in the USA still finishing high school (it was in March 2009, so he had graduated already in January 2009 but I was going to until June 2009), and again in fall of 2010, when I want to take him home to meet my parents for Christmas, and we had been living together in Ecuador for over a year. Unfortunately, he was denied both times. Even though to any normal person, this would be a perfectly normal thing to do (what normal girl doesn't want her boyfriend of two years to meet her parents?), I'm worried that the IV unit in Guayaquil will try to make a problem out of it. If they ask, I'm planning on telling them exactly what I just wrote, because it's the truth and I don't want to make up any shady excuses that could get us into trouble.

I should also add that we got married in May 2011, and my family has since been down twice to meet him and get to know him, and we didn't file for his I-130 until after they left the second time. Still, I can't help but get nervous that when our interview day comes around, they're going to make us come to a second interview or put him in the dreaded AP for some reason. Has anyone else been in their situation with their spouses? Or does anyone have any insight? I'm probably just worrying for nothing, but it's hard not to with this hellish consulate. Thanks in advance for any help.

My wife had been turned down for a student visa about 10 months before the interview. We listed it on the forms. The person that collected the papers asked who my Mom was since she was listed as the sponsor. The main interviewer never even asked about it.

If you have been living together and have pics with both of you guys with your your family during their visit to Ecuador I wouldn't worry too much about it. I too had a few fotos of my family visiting us on a trip to Galapagos and pretty much when he saw those pics he said we were approved.

Main questions to be prepared for are:

How, when and where did you meet.

How, when and where did you get engaged.

In you case how, when and where did you get married.

And know how long it has been since those times. 1 year, 1 year 2 months etc..

Just make sure you have all the dates and times down as they seem to be sticklers for that.

Also be prepared to say what you will do in the USA, and where you will live.

Main piece of advice. Go early!!!! you want to be able to sit where you can hear the interviews so you know what they are asking. When I went the main interview took place in the very last little interview window. (next to the wall)

How that helps.

Dal

[oohpartiv 484]

My wife had been turned down for a student visa about 10 months before the interview. We listed it on the forms. The person that collected the papers asked who my Mom was since she was listed as the sponsor. The main interviewer never even asked about it.

If you have been living together and have pics with both of you guys with your your family during their visit to Ecuador I wouldn't worry too much about it. I too had a few fotos of my family visiting us on a trip to Galapagos and pretty much when he saw those pics he said we were approved.

Main questions to be prepared for are:

How, when and where did you meet.

How, when and where did you get engaged.

In you case how, when and where did you get married.

And know how long it has been since those times. 1 year, 1 year 2 months etc..

Just make sure you have all the dates and times down as they seem to be sticklers for that.

Also be prepared to say what you will do in the USA, and where you will live.

Main piece of advice. Go early!!!! you want to be able to sit where you can hear the interviews so you know what they are asking. When I went the main interview took place in the very last little interview window. (next to the wall)

How that helps.

Dal

That actually does make me feel better. We listed his previous visa attempts in the paperwork, too, so hopefully it won't be a big deal. And thanks for the tips! We are definitely planning on showing up super early just in case.

[fantonledzepp 159]

You'll be fine. I think you have excellent proof and should be in good shape for the interview. When they ask about the visa attempts, just answer truthfully..

[TBoneTX 45,245]

You'll be fine. I think you have excellent proof and should be in good shape for the interview. When they ask about the visa attempts, just answer truthfully.

Agreed, si man. Even a Guayaquil CO would be loco to question the bona fide nature of YOUR relationship. And, over & over in these fora, we're told that previous denials of tourist visas have no effect on family-based visas, as long as no fraud was involved.

[oohpartiv 484]

Agreed, si man. Even a Guayaquil CO would be loco to question the bona fide nature of YOUR relationship. And, over & over in these fora, we're told that previous denials of tourist visas have no effect on family-based visas, as long as no fraud was involved.

You'll be fine. I think you have excellent proof and should be in good shape for the interview. When they ask about the visa attempts, just answer truthfully..

Great, thanks guys. That makes me feel better. I was hoping there wouldn't be any problems with it, but these people always seem to make problems out of things that seem harmless, so I was a little nervous. I'll keep everyone updated on how the interview goes.

[TBoneTX 45,245]

Si, ma'am. Just be prepared for any monkeyshines that they might pull.